Improvement in devices for loading cartridges



Patented March-5, 1878;.

P ammw E'. SGHENOK. Device for Loading Cartridges. No. 200,84

%\\\@\\\W W. w////A 04. W m QA/ w UN ED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

l EDWIN so'HENoK, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND:

IMPROVEMENT IN'DEVI'CESFOR LOADING CARTRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,846, dated March 5-, 1878; application filed To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN SGHENOK, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Cartridge-Shell Chargers, of which the following is a specification and I do hereby declare that in the same is contained a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to certain improvements in a machine for filling or charging cartridge-shells for breech-loading shot-guns and other fire-arms, as will hereinafter fully appear.

In the description of the invention, which follows, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and in Which Figure 1 is a vertical section of certain parts of the machine, showing the relative positions of the same during the first stageof the charging operation, which consists in measuring the powder-charges prior to their introduction to the shells. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same elements or parts of the machine, showing their relative positions as changed, in order to allow the charges to fall to the shells. Fig. 3 shows the application of the packing device, forming a part of the machine, to certain other portions of the same. Fig. 4 is a partly sectional edge view of a detached part of the machine. Fig. 5 is an exterior view of a device to be used to insert wads in the cells of the machine leading to the interior of the shells.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

The shell-holder consists of a block, A, having therein the cells a, into which the cartridge shells B are inserted. The cells a are contracted, at a point immediately above the shells B, to a size corresponding to the inner diameter of the shells, and expanded or eniarged outwardly from the point of contraction, for purposes hereinafter described. The shell-holding block A is adapted to be held between the flanges of a plate, 0, with the ends of the shells resting upon the upper surface thereof, and in order to prevent the percussion-caps 0, previously fixed in position, from being exploded in the shell-charging op- "December 1877.

eration, the saidplate is provided withdepressions or cavities d, as shown.

D is the powder-charging tray, resting removably upon the upper face of the shell-holding blockA; and it consists of aplate having a raised edge around it, and provided with chambers e of a diameter slightly less than that of the interior of the shells. Each one of the chambers e is designed to hold the requisite quantity of powder for a single shell, its contents being regulated by the thickness of the plate, the diameter of the chamber being fixed.

A trough, f, at one end of the tray is used to contain surplus powder removed from the surface of the plate by means of a strike, hereinafter referred to.

The packing device for ramming the powder and shot charges consists of a series of plungers, g, extending from a plate, h, the said plungers corresponding in number and position with. the cells in the block A.

Parts of the invention, not yet referred to, will be described, and their uses fully set forth in the description of the operation of charging cartridge-shells by means of my improved machine, which follows: The shells B are inserted in the cells a in the block A, and the said block is placed upon the plate 0. The powder charging or measuring tray D is then adjusted upon the blockAin the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the -drawingthat is to say, with the lower ends of the chambers 6 closed. The said chambers are next filled with powder from a flask, and any surplus powder remaining upon the surface of the tray is removed to the trough f by means of a strike. The said parts of the machine are then made to assume the relative positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, by sliding the powder-charging tray in such direction as will bring the chambers 6 into communication with the cells a, and allow the powder-charges contained in the chambers to pass to the cartridge-shells. At this stage of the operation the powder-charging tray is removed, and wads are introduced to the ex panded ends of the cells a by means of a pointed instrument, E.

The advantage of introducing the wads to the cells a by means of the said pointed in strument is that the wads may be placed in a horizontal position at once, and therefore have not to be turned, as is the case when inserted edgewise by the fingers.

It will be understood that by expanding the upper ends of the cells, as shown, the introduction of the wads to the cells by means of the pointed instrument is greatly facilitated. The powder-charges are now rammed collect: ively by striking the packing device, the plungers of which are inserted in the cells a, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Upon the removal of the packing device the shot-charging tray, represented in Fig. 4, and which differs from the powder-trayonly in that it has a different thickness of plate, is placed upon the block A. The shot, and afterward the outer wads, are then introduced to the shell in a manner similar to that before referred to. Upon the completion of the charging operation the blockAis removed fromthe shells, which, as they fit loosely within the cells or, remain upon the plate B ready for use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

The block A and plate 0, having openings (1, combined with the sliding tray D, provided with the cells 0, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed .my name this 14th day of September, in the year of our Lord 1877.

EDWIN SOHENOK.

Witnesses WM. T. HOWARD, THOS. MURDOGH'. 

